Thoracoscopy is a surgical technique that allows direct visualization of the inside of the thorax, either to study the lungs and other organs of the interior (pleura, heart, thymus among others), or to perform treatments and / or surgeries, also called Minimally Invasive Pulmonary Surgery or VATS (acronym of video-assisted thoracic surgery).

For this, small incisions are made in the thorax (2 to 3), approximately 1-1.5 cm, and the endoscope is inserted through them with video-camera, clamps, and other small devices that allow manipulation of the internal organs without opening the whole rib cage, by which trained surgeons perform the procedure by means of a monitor without literally entering their hands into the cavity.

The procedure is performed under general anesthesia, with selective intubation by the anesthesiologist trained in this type of procedure. Most of our patients leave extubated operating room, that is, without requiring ventilatory assistance depending, of course, on the magnitude of the surgery to be performed.

Currently, more than 90% of the patients treated in Clinica Cardiovascular for some thoracic-pulmonary pathology are managed in this way, provided that, their recommended diagnostic and surgical procedures allow this.

Thoracoscopy is considered as a minimally invasive surgical technique (same as arthroscopy or laparoscopy). However, it is still a surgical procedure, so it must be performed in an operating room, under general anesthesia and by a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon.

Minimally invasive techniques such as thoracoscopy (VATS) have allowed the postoperative period of patients to be less painful, shorter and more satisfactory. By not having to take so many pain pills and decreasing hospital admission time, cost savings are very important. The number of infections in the postoperative period also decreases because the invasion into the thoracic cage is done with small incisions, so the surgical wounds are minimal.